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Black Eye Cocktail Drink

Black Eye Drink Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Enjoy the Black Eye Drink recipe this season! Blend Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Crème de Cassis, blackberries, and raspberries for a perfect fall cocktail.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 245

Ingredients
 

  • 2 oz Irish Whiskey
  • ¾ oz Drambuie
  • ¼ oz Creme de Cassis
  • 2 fresh blackberries
  • 4 fresh raspberries
  • 8-12 fresh mint leaves
  • Ice cubes
  • Mint sprig & extra berries - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Old Fashioned Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Muddler
  • Shaker
  • Cocktail Strainer
  • Fine strainer
  • Stirrer or Bar Spoon
  • Cocktail Skewer for garnishing, optional

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Fill an Old Fashioned or Rocks glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
  • Muddle Berries: Drop 4 fresh raspberries and 2 fresh blackberries into the shaker. Muddle well to release their juice.
  • Add Crème de Cassis: Add ¼ oz Creme de Cassis.
  • Add Drambuie: Measure and add ¾ oz Drambuie.
  • Add Irish Whiskey: Finally, add 2 oz Irish Whiskey to the mix.
  • Add Mint: Drop approx. 8-12 fresh mint leaves into the shaker as well.
  • Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it, and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
  • Strain: Discard the ice in the Old Fashioned glass and refill it with a generous amount of fresh, new ice cubes. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and fine strainer, strain the drink into the ice-filled glass.
  • Garnish: Garnish with a mint sprig and a few extra berries (you can either place them directly into the glass or use a cocktail skewer to hold them together). Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Irish Whiskey: If you don't have Irish whiskey, you can use bourbon for a slightly sweeter flavor. Rye whiskey and Scotch whisky also work pretty well; feel free to experiment!
  • Drambuie: Drambuie is a very specific, hard-to-replace ingredient. However, if you really can’t find any, you can try using Strega or Amaretto as a substitute in this cocktail. If using a Bourbon base instead of Irish whiskey, you can also try using Southern Comfort as a substitute for Drambuie.
  • Creme de Cassis: You can use blackberry or raspberry liqueur as a substitute. Darker liqueurs such as Chambord or Cherry Heering also bring a deep, fruity undertone to this drink and can be used to create a slight twist on this cocktail.
  • Fresh Raspberries and Blackberries: If fresh berries are not in season, you can use frozen fruits in your cocktail. Simply let them defrost before using, muddle them into your shaker, and follow the original recipe.

Making a Pitcher of Black Eye Drink:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Irish whiskey, 12 oz of Drambuie, 2 oz of Creme de Cassis, 16 fresh blackberries, 32 fresh raspberries, and 5 handfuls of fresh mint leaves.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, muddle the blackberries and raspberries. Smack the mint leaves between your hands a couple of times to release their aroma and drop them into the pitcher. Then, add the Irish whiskey, Drambuie, and Crème de Cassis. Stir well and let it infuse for 15-20 minutes at room temperature.
  • Serve: Once the flavors are infused, strain to remove the ice and the muddled fruits, leaving only a smooth cocktail behind. Serve immediately into ice-filled rocks or Old Fashioned glasses and garnish each drink with a mint sprig and a few extra berries. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep them in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.

Making it Vegan:

  • Drambuie Substitute: Since Drambuie contains honey, replace it with agave syrup mixed with Scotch whisky to keep it vegan-friendly. You can also use Strega for a quicker, readily available alternative.
  • Proceed As Usual: Follow the original steps using this substitute to enjoy a vegan-friendly version of the Black Eye Drink.